Sandro Monetti gives us the skinny on his life as a top showbusiness reporter….
I’ve kissed Madonna, head-butted Tom Cruise, and peed on Samuel L. Jackson.
Such dubious achievements are all part of life when you’re a Hollywood showbiz reporter and interviewer like me.
But with no movie premieres or parties to cover during lockdown, I decided to write down my stories about meeting the 100 biggest stars in the world and the result is a new book called Confessions of a Hollywood Insider: My Amusing Encounters With The A-List.
Writing a memoir is the ultimate reflective experience and caused me to ask the question: how did I end up here, in L.A., lucky enough to be reporting on the biggest names for the likes of CNN International and the BBC?
Like so many things, the answers can be found in childhood.
Growing up in England as an only child whose parents worked really hard as hoteliers, I spent a lot of time in front of the TV set, which became a kind of babysitter, friend, and teacher in those formative years as well an antidote to the mundanity of school. I was especially drawn to the escapism and adventure of the American shows and films, so my imaginary friends became the likes of Captain Kirk, Knight Rider, The A-Team and Rocky Balboa.
A desire to draw closer to these famous icons and have a conversation with them grew in me. It was as if I wanted to climb into the television and be part of that world. I knew from an early age what career I wanted to pursue when I grew up: becoming a show business reporter, ideally in Hollywood.
That journalism career started on my hometown paper, Blackpool’s Evening Gazette, and continued as columnist with much loved music magazine Smash Hits before working my way up to become a showbiz editor on various national UK newspapers in London. Then working for Sky TV first took me to the States where I launched a new chapter in my spiritual home in Hollywood. Along the way I took a brief detour into teaching, creating the world’s first-degree course in celebrity journalism, wrote a couple of movie star biographies and plays, hosted a podcast and the Brits in LA Pub Quiz, won a few reporting awards, and did many hundreds of star interviews, all with my signature look- wearing a smart suit, carrying a British flag bag, and with a beaming smile on my face.
No matter how hot L.A. gets, I always dress up for work- a lesson learned from Frank Sinatra to always respect your audience. I drop names like that throughout the book. And there is forever a big smile on my face. Why wouldn’t there be? I love what I do and adore the city where I live.
Los Angeles was the first place in the world where I had truly felt at home – because from the moment I touched down in this sun-kissed dream factory, I recognized so many of the streets and buildings from the TV shows and movies I had always loved.
Plus, as someone pursuing his own ambitions, I related to the aspirational nature of the people. L.A. is a big shiny casino that works like a magnet to millions of dreamers. It’s a special place which has given me magical memories, many of which I want to share with you in this book, published by Hi-Fex and available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.
My hope is that your reaction to my work will be less painful than the one that greeted me when I was recognized during a showbiz party in the summer of 2019. While eagerly accepting some of the finger food being passed around on trays, I was approached by a rather angry looking fellow party guest.
He said, “I’ve seen you on CNN.” But it seemed more like an accusation than a compliment.
I was about to thank him for watching and ask his name but before I could get the words out … he kicked me firmly in the balls.
As I staggered back in pain, my attacker yelled triumphantly: “Fox News mother f—er!” Then ran off disappearing into the crowd.
I guess he wasn’t a fan.
You can join Sandro for more Hollywood stories each Tuesday night when he hosts Brits in LA Pub Quiz on Zoom (log in using ID 960-556-148 each Tuesday at 7.45pm)
